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Be the gadget boss with CeX

Initial Investment Required From £250,000 + VAT (£60,000 + VAT capital requirement)
Summary of Operation

Specialist buy and sell retailer of second-hand digital electronic and entertainment products with nearly 20 years of experience. CeX trade in mobile phones, games, DVDs, Blu-ray, digital electronics, computing, vision products and music CDs.

Capitalising on the fast-paced and ongoing development of entertainment technology, the CeX franchise is a dynamic retail opportunity with massive market potential.

Founded in 1992, Complete entertainment eXchange (CeX) has rapidly expanded to become one of the UK’s largest second-hand retail franchises, this year smashing its goal of opening 100 stores since the launch of its first franchised store in 2004.


The CeX business model allows customers to buy, sell and exchange a focused yet complementary range of products including mobile phones, video games, DVDs, Blu-ray, computers, digital electronics and CDs. Uniquely all goods are second-hand, tested in store and sold with a 12-month warranty.

New franchise owners receive hands-on experience in a CeX store and extensive training. Support is ongoing with a dedicated Franchise Manager just a phone call away and specialists from the CeX support centre available to provide advice on areas including product testing, loss prevention, IT and marketing.

CeX history

  • Established in London in 1992.
  • CeX expanded out of London and opened its Birmingham store in 1997.
  • The CeX online buy and sell website Webuy.com was launched in 1998.
  • In 1998, CeX opened stores in Watford, Hounslow, Bromley, Kingston and Leeds.
  • The first franchised CeX store was opened in 2004, in Croydon.
  • Today CeX has 127 stores in the UK and is constantly growing with five outlets in Spain and eight in the USA.

Kasim Ali

Stores in: Croydon, George Street; Croydon Station Approach; Maidstone; Crawley; Bexleyheath and Tunbridge Wells.

Since he made the transition from CeX employee to the first CeX franchise owner six years ago, Kasim Ali’s business has gone from strength-to-strength. To date he has six stores operating under his guidance, which generate a combined annual turnover in excess of £4 million.

“I was confident CeX would bring me the success I was looking for,” says Kasim. “Because it has a strong brand name and operates using a proven business system of buying, selling and exchanging second-hand technological and entertainment goods.”

Trade in and transform lives at CeX

In the UK customers can choose to donate to one of three charities when selling their old games, phones, DVDs and gadgets to CeX. This is available both in store and online.Customers can donate some or all of the value of their items to DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign or Help for Heroes.